RB Heads
- Thread starter Rick62
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None of the factory BB heads have a true hardened seat. The later heads have a flame hardened seat. The 76-78 452 heads are your best bet.
Pretty sure 452's are induction hardened.
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What I mean is they don't have a steel seat cut into them.
I know folks will think I’m nuts by saying restore the old ones but thats what I did with my 906s... of course I wanted the originals and we put all new guides, seats etc. I’m chasing the pure stock class with this car though. 452 will definitely get the job done though. I like your truck, looks good!
Today, after this many years and valve jobs, just have the hardened seats installed in whatever heads you rebuild. Induction hardness only goes so deep, and wear and valve jobs remove it. Just be safe, and install exhaust seats now, instead of the second time after an original seat fails...
tonysrt
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I have 2 NOS 452's if your interested for $100. The shipping may be a killer because we're talking about 100 lbs. for both.
66Satellite47
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Your '84 will have hardened seats. Pretty sure the 452's are "hardened". I'd bet a 906 would last many many miles on no lead. Or use an additive on occasion.
I have over 33K on mine quit using any additive probably 20 years ago.
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Pretty sure they did not make a 440 in 1984
452 heads do not have a steel seat.
66Satellite47
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Ya, I was lazy in my wording, a later model 440 will have hardened seats. My apologies. I didn't say they were "steel" I said "hardened". As I understand they were induction hardened, or maybe it was flame hardened.
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Ya your right. I'm sorry. I'm just being a butthead.
Rick62
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The motor in the truck is a '72 that was rebuilt more than thirty years ago. I have a set of 906's that look OK. I think I'm going to install new valves, new guides, new seals, new springs and a valve job and go with those. I don't drive the truck every day and I don't drive it hard. Thanks everyone for your input!
66Satellite47
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OK, I get it.
66Satellite47
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the 906's will outlive me.
Rick62
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Me too......
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